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T O P I C R E V I E W

moonnut

I have seen a lot of beta cloth flags that are around 8.5 by 6.5 inch with a large flag. I have one that is 4.5 by 3.5 inch and a small flag. Where on a suit would this patch be used and is this patch considered rare? Value?

FlyBuzz11

Any history to go along with the patch? How do you know it is real?

328KF

The larger beta cloth flags were used on the outer layer of the spacesuit. Those smaller ones were used on the left arm of the IVA jacket that the crewmember wore while inside the spacecraft.

The larger ones exist in the market as both originals from NASA and from a commemorative set released to the public by Dow-Corning. They are virtually identical and about as common as any other beta, which is not that rare, but pretty scarce and sometimes pricey.

The smaller ones I think would have to be exclusively NASA-issued, and therefore somewhat less available. I have seen a few floating around at memorabilia shows, but don't often see them on eBay, for example.

One nice thing about the smaller ones is that they sometimes have more blank beta material around the edges which allows for signatures, which a lot of collectors add to these when they can.

moonnut

I received it as part of a collection. Here is a pic.

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Would you consider it to be more desirable than the larger flag version or not so much?

328KF

Well, "desirable" can be a subjective term, I guess. I would put it in the "harder to find" category. Having said that, your example has plenty of space for signatures around the flag as I mentioned before. Unfortunately, these days the potential signers typically charge a premium to sign any beta cloth patches. I believe Alan Bean was last quoted at $300.

It's not a neatly trimmed piece, but that can be easily matted out...I wouldn't try to do any additional cutting on it as it will just continue to fray.